Media container and media protection apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a media container ( 4 ) adapted to protect a medium ( 10 ) having
         an opening ( 12 ) adapted to allow that a medium ( 10 ) is put into the media container ( 4 ) ; and   a closure ( 8 ) by which the opening ( 12 ) may be closed; wherein the closure ( 8 ) is adapted such that in its opened state air from the media container ( 4 ) may be exhausted, that in its opened state protective gas may flow into the media container ( 4 ) and that in its closed state entering and/or exiting of a fluid from the media container ( 4 ) and/or into the media container ( 4 ) is prevented.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. DE20 2014 100 333.9, filed Jan. 27, 2014, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a media container and a media protectionapparatus protecting media, such as film, a film on a film reel or thelike against environment influences, particularly fungal infestation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mould poses a significant risk for books, arts on paper and filmmaterial. Mould is caused particularly by moistly building parts or inareas having a seasonally caused high humidity.

Mould is a popular expression for particular types of fungus. Personskilled in the art call the visible growth of a fungal film on paper,leather, textile and other organic material mould. A further type offungus is mustiness or foxing. The category of fungus comprises a highnumber of species including also yeast bacteria, rust and ediblemushrooms. More than 100,000 species are known. All fungal types needfurther organisms in order to survive. The group of fungus called mouldfungus spawn by proliferating in numerous asexually generated spurs, socalled conidia. Generally, they are mono cellular and are proliferatedby air. Spurs can fix anywhere and may begin to grow under suitableconditions. This may be a matter of hours. These spurs generate cellspiremes so called hypha, which branch and develop the known hairlikethread web, called mycel. Mycelia generate spur pockets, which matureand burst, thereby further emitting spurs. They will be delivered bymovements of air, insects, animals or humans to new carriers. Thereby,the cyclus continues, under suitable conditions even at an alarmingspeed. Mould fungus emit enzymes which enable them to decompose organicmaterials, wherein the enzymes change the material and thereby weakeningit. Many fungi comprise colored substances, such as Melanin causing onfilm material, cloth and leather spot like discoloration. Mould posesboth for humans and for the conservation of books, film and art on papera significant thread. Some mould fungus species, such as aspergillusfumigatus, are poisonous. Further, mould fungi are strong allergenics.Contact with the mould fungi may trigger allergies even with personswhich are not allergy prone. Fungi are inactive as long as theenvironment conditions prevent growth of the fungi. It is distinguishedbetween exogenous inactivity, if the environment conditions preventgrowth of the fungi, such as when the climate is dryer, and endogenous(self caused) inactivity, if a colony of fungi has reached a certainstage of growth and has to rest. Thus, fungi may be inactive even inconditions supporting their growth. In the stage of inactivity the mouldspurs are also inactive and accordingly a lower risk for the culturegood. Indeed, the resting time of fungi is reversible at any point oftime. Under suitable conditions spurs awake to a new life and continueto grow, even if they have been frozen or dried before. Therefore, alsoinactive mould fungi still pose a risk for books, film material and arton paper. Numerous mould fungus species comprise pigments and causediscoloration when resting on material. It is assumed that even thegeneration of foxing, the rust-like discoloration on old papers, arisesfrom the activity of mould fungi. Fungi spurs, whether active or not,are present everywhere. A diligent maintenance of the premises and awell operating air filter equipment cannot prevent that warehouses,archives, libraries and museums are not completely free of suchorganisms. Fungi spur can be found in any room on each collection objectand each person entering the room. As long as the climatic conditions inthe rooms for storing the cultural good correspond to the recommendedclimate guide lines (40 to 60% relative humidity, 16 to 20° C.), mouldspurs are presumably inactive. The only strategy for defending mouldfungi is to observe the climate guidelines, and to keep the premises asclean as possible, such as to avoid entering of new active funguscolonies. A proliferation may be reduced/avoided only by instantquarantine of the affected material.

Environment conditions supporting growth of fungi:

For their proliferation, fungus spurs need both nutrition and humidity.Any organic material may serve as nutrition for fungi. Indeed, differenttypes prefer different nutrition sources, however books, film negativesand paper, particularly the substances comprised therein, such as starchor adhesives, are generally an attractive nutrition source for fungi.Mould may be recognized on the surface of film material by whitesnowflake shaped fungus mash. Once the material is affected by thefungus mesh, it is nearly impossible to recognize an image. Duringprojection and after digitalizing a fungus infestation may be identifiedby dark snowflake shapes.

Fungi also attack leather and cellulose, wherein particular types ratheravoid cellulose. The humidity necessary for growth of mould is foundoften in the atmosphere, but it can also be available in the nutritionsource or in the fungus colony. The rate of humidity in the air ismeasured as relative humidity (rF). Generally, the higher the relativehumidity, the better the conditions for growth of mould. If the relativehumidity is for a longer period in direct influence of the material over70%, it is almost impossible to avoid fungus growth. However, it is tobe noted that a particular number of fungi can proliferate at moderatehumidity (up to 45%). In such cases the humidity necessary for fungusgrowth may be present in the surface material on which the mould hasgrown or in the mould colony itself. As with all organic substances,humidity can be found also in binding material and paper and in thefungus colony itself in an equilibrium with the climate of thesurroundings. However, the water content of a surface or fungus colonyis not the same as in the atmosphere, it may be higher. Due to thedifferent water solubility of materials the respective substances mayalso absorb in a different quantity of humidity.

Besides humidity and nutrients further factors play a role with mouldformation:

Temperature:

Specific fungus types prefer different temperatures, however merely atemperature value between 0° C. and 36° C. is ideal for proliferation ofspurs. The ideal temperature for fungus growth is a value of 26° C. Deepfreezing of active fungus colonies will kill a large part of mycelia andgerming spurs, however it cannot affect inactive spurs. Active spursmortify, if the environment conditions are dry and the temperatureranges above 36° C.

Air circulation:

A good air circulation seems to reduce fungus growth, presumably becauseit acts drying. Air circulation may also promote spur growth, if activespurs are available that are transported to a new surface. Therefore,air circulation should be moderate and endangered materials should bestored in appropriate containers.

Light:

It has been proven that a significant number of fungus species growbetter in the dark. Currently, there are no conclusive proves for thisobservation. Further, film material and paper is damaged under influenceof light and therefore it is not advisable to use light against mould.

The chemical composition of the material affected by mould:

Up to date it is not proven scientifically whether fungi grow better onacidic or alkaline substrate, however it is known that some chemicalspromote under certain conditions perforation of spurs.

Preventive measures for opposing formation of mould:

Once proliferation of mould has commenced, it is extremely difficult toeradicate it, since the possibilities for fighting against it arelimited. Therefore, the principle is as in all other areas ofconservation: Prevention is better than healing!

The following recommendations help to prevent mould infestation:

Temperature and relative humidity (rF) shall remain constant at middlevalues. The values may be monitored by suitable measuring equipmentaround the clock. The rF should not exceed 55%, lower values are ideal.Temperature appears to be less crucial in terms of mould infestation,but temperature should be constant and under 21° C., since to hightemperatures accelerate the chemical decomposition of the sensitivematerial. Further, for avoiding mould infestation a moderate aircirculation is desired.

Collectables should be stored in protective containers. For storingpotentially endangered elements in a non-compartmentalized room, airtight covers should be considered for a reduced the risk of fastproliferation. Cleaning work is to be done thoroughly and regularly.Dust and dirt are a buzzle area for spurs, both active and non-active.

Vinegar syndrome (VS) on film material:

Vinegar syndrome is a term for the hydrolytic decomposition(hydrolysis=decomposition of a chemical compound by reaction with water)of cellulose acetate. The ethanoic acid generated thereby migratesgradually at the surface of the film and thereby emits the typicalvinegar smell. The hydrolytic separation is always present, but isinfluenced by temperature and humidity. Often, the reaction is verytedious. However, the more acid is released, the faster this chainreaction, also termed autocatalytic reaction, is. The released acidaccelerates thus the reaction—it can also infect further films.Therefore, such films shall be separated from other material. Sometimesit is possible to observe a deposit on the film surface of a filmaffected by the vinegar syndrome. These are softeners (triphenylphosphate) crystallizing on the surface. By the loss of the softener andby separating of the acetate groups the film gets fragile and shrinks.In the very advanced stage of the vinegar syndrome the film can get upto 10% smaller. A further problem is also the different speed of decayof the film basis and the gelatin. Since the basis decays faster asgelatin the gelatin layer separates from the basis. The gelatin ishardly affected by the ethanoic acid. However, the colors may bleachgradually (not comparable with a red cast). The speed of reaction of thehydrolytic decomposition is also influenced by metal ions, thereforeplastic cups and plastic boxes are to be recommended. Therefore, alsomagnet soundtracks can act intensifying, a steady control of such copiesappears to be recommended. The vinegar syndrome cannot be stopped orreversed. An optimal storage depends mainly on temperature and humidity.

Recommendations in case of affection of highly sensible film material

The first thing to be done is to put such film into quarantine. The filmshall be removed from the film collection as fast possible, since thedanger of infection both for mould fungus spurs and the vinegar syndromeis very high. Even only a single film is affected by mould, the mouldspurs can proliferate quickly to other film spools. In the ideal casethe affected film is to be rolled on a new spool and put into a new filmcontainer. The ideal material for the spool and the container is zinccoated tin plate. If a new film spool or container are not at hand, theold can be cleaned thoroughly. Thereafter, the film is brought to astorage location having preferably ideal temperature conditions andhumidity conditions. Generally, all films are to be verified. The agingprocess cannot be stopped but may be slowed down significantly. It isimportant to observe the correct storage, whereby temperatures rangingbetween 5° C. and 16° C. at a maximal humidity of 50% are idealrequirements.

It is an object of the invention to provide a media container and amedia protection apparatus protecting a medium from environmentalinfluences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A media container according to the present invention adapted to protecta medium from aging includes an opening adapted to allow putting amedium into the media container and a closure for closing the opening.The closure is adapted such that in its open state air can be exhaustedand vacuumed off, respectively from the container, that in its openstate protective gas can flow into the container and that in its closestate entering and/or exciting of a fluid from and into, respectivelythe container is prevented.

The media container may be a bag. A bag may be a flexible container.

The protective gas may have a proportion of the weight or a proportionof the volume form about 50% to 95%, preferably from about 60% to about80%, most preferred from about 65% to about 75% of nitrogen. Theprotective gas may have a proportion of weight or a proportion of volumefrom about 5% to about 50%, preferably from about 20% to about 40%, mostpreferred from about 25% to about 35% carbon dioxide. Nitrogen removesquantities of humidity on the medium. Carbon dioxide slows down growthof bacteria or mould fungi on the medium.

The closure is adapted to be sealed. The closure may be welded. Theclosure may be a seal membrane and a foil seal, respectively that can beinflated and presses the seal rails by a high pressure against a counterpressure bar. A seal wire is heated by electric current and an electricimpulse, respectively. Thereby the hot sealable inside of the closureare molten together.

The media container is fluid tight after closing of the closure. Themedia container is fluid tight up to a pressure of more than proximately2 bar, preferably more than approximately 5 bar, most preferably up toapproximately 10 bar. The medium may be a film, a film reel with film, asound carrier or a data carrier.

The invention also relates to a media protection apparatus adapted tovacuum off a media container and to fill the media container withprotective gas and inert gas, respectively. The media protectionapparatus comprises a chamber adapted to accommodate the mediacontainer, an evacuation opening in the chamber connectable to a pump,wherein the pump is adapted to vacuum off the chamber and the mediacontainer, a protective gas opening in the chamber connectable to aconnectable gas source, wherein the protective gas source is adapted tofill the media container with protective gas, and a closure deviceadapted to close the closure of the media container. The protective gassource may be a gas bottle or a gas tank in which pressurized gas isfilled.

The evacuation opening and the protective gas opening may be formedintegral. In other words, the evacuation opening and the protective gasopening may be the same opening. In the chamber a conduit may bearranged, heading from the protective gas opening to the opening of themedia container. Thereby, protective gas can be passed aimed and underavoiding of losses to the media container.

The closure device may be adapted to close the closure of the mediacontainer by thermal energy, such as that the opposing areas of theclosure are melted together, as has been described before. The chambermay further comprise a pressure compensation opening adapted tocompensate a pressure for the chamber. The pressure compensation openingmay be formed integrally with the evacuation opening and/or theprotective gas opening. The pressure compensation opening may be theevacuation opening or the protective gas opening. The pressurecompensation opening, the evacuation opening and the protective gasopening may be the same opening. The chamber may comprise a lid that maybe opened and closed to put the media container into the chamber and/orto take the media container from the same. The lid may only be openedafter the pressure has been compensated by the pressure compensationopening.

Mould and the vinegar syndrome damage films. Storing films in a humid ora warm cellar may contribute to the decay of the film material. Theaging process of a film may be accelerated by humidity. If the humidityis higher than 50%, the film may be affected by mould or by the vinegarsyndrome. Such humidity is reduced for each medium stored in a mediacontainer to an absolute minimum.

The experience of the inventor in the area of film media shows thatmaterial effected by mould fungus can only be repaired under significantcosts and with a significantly reduced quality. If the infestation hasproceeded too far, the material is often without any value and the artsmay be lost forever. Besides a temperature controlled storage theinvention provides a significantly reduced mould infestation and anavoidance of proliferation of spurs. The vinegar syndrome may be avoidedby the invention.

Film elements to be stored are thoroughly controlled and, if necessary,cleaned from spurs and similar mould fungus promoting dust particles.Such cleaning may be done by industrial alcohol with a concentration of98%, which has shown to be effective for cleaning the highly sensiblematerial. Thereafter, the media is put into a special blister undervacuume substituting the remaining oxygen proportion by protective gasnoxius for fungi, and thereafter the special blister is closed. Theinvention provides the advantage that humidity in the media containerand the blister, respectively is reduced to a minimum. The mediacontainer is evacuated from oxygen as a nutrition basis for mould fungusand as a basis for the chemical reaction of the vinegar syndrome. Aproliferation of spurs to non-affected material is impossible. The mediais also protected from firewater, dust and similar harmful influences.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in theart, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described under reference to the accompanying FIG.1 in more detail, which shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view through an inventive mediaprotection device and an inventive media container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail.Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughoutthe views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosurethat follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. As usedin the description herein and throughout the claims, the following termstake the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includesplural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

FIG. 1 shows a media container 4, disposed in a media protectionapparatus 2. The terms media container 4 and media protection apparatus2 are to be interpreted such that merely one medium 10, such as a filmreel with a film can be protected.

The medium 10 is located in the media container. The medium 10 may beput through the opening 12 in a bag 6 into the media container 4. Themedia container 4 comprises a closure, closing the media container 4fluid tight as soon as it is closed.

The media protection apparatus 2 comprises a lid 22 fixed by a hinge 24at the base body 50. The lid 22 and the base body 50 form a chamber inwhich the media container 4 is located.

As soon as the media container 4 is put into the chamber 20 and the lid22 is closed, the valve 30 is opened and by a pump 32 and an evacuationopening 46 the chamber 20 and the interior of the bag 6 is evacuated andvacuumed off, respectively, particularly from oxygen. Therefore, theclosing device 38 holds the bag by a first closing element 40 and asecond closing element 42 such that the closure 8 forms an opening 12through which a gas may flow from the bag and from the media containerfor, respectively.

As soon as the bag 6 is evacuated and vacuumed off, respectively thefirst closure element 40 and the second closure element 42 are closedpartly by a closure control device 44, such that protective gas may flowfrom the gas bottle 26 through a valve 28, a protective gas opening 48and a protective gas conduit 34 and a protective gas port into the bag6.

As soon as the bag 6 is sufficiently filled with protective gas up to apredetermined pressure, the first closing element 40 and the secondclosing element 42 are closed by the closure control device 44 andheated by a heating device in the area of the closure 8, such that theclosure 8 is closed. The closure 8 may comprise a seal membrane at itsinterior. The first closure element 40 may form a seal rail and thesecond closure element 42 may form a counter pressure bar. In the sealrail 40 and the counter pressure bar 42 a seal wire may be arranged,heated by electric current and an electric impulse, respectively.Thereby, the hot sealable interior sides of the bag are melted together.

As soon as the bag 6 is closed at the closure 8, potential remainingprotective gas may be released from the chamber 20 by opening the valve5

The above described embodiments, while including the preferredembodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor atthe time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will bereadily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specificembodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of theinvention is to be determined by the claims below rather than beinglimited to the specifically described embodiments above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A media container adapted to protect a mediumhaving an opening adapted to allow that a medium is put into the mediacontainer; and a closure by which the opening may be closed; wherein theclosure is adapted such that in its opened state air from the mediacontainer may be exhausted, that in its opened state protective gas mayflow into the media container and that in its closed state enteringand/or exiting of a fluid from the media container and/or into the mediacontainer is prevented.
 2. The media container according to claim 1,wherein the media container is a bag.
 3. The media container accordingto claim 1, wherein the protective gas comprises a weight proportion ofapproximately 50% to approximately 95%, preferably from approximately60% to approximately 80%, most preferred from approximately 65% toapproximately 75% of nitrogen.
 4. The media container according to claim1, wherein the protective gas comprises a weight proportion fromapproximately 5% to approximately 50%, preferably from approximately 20%to approximately 40%, most preferred from approximately 25% toapproximately 35% of carbon dioxide.
 5. The media container according toclaim 1, wherein the protective gas comprises a volume proportion ofapproximately 50% to approximately 95%, preferably from approximately60% to approximately 80%, most preferably from approximately 65% toapproximately 75% of nitrogen.
 6. The media container according to claim1, wherein the protective gas comprises a volume proportion ofapproximately 5% to approximately 50%, preferably from approximately 20%to approximately 40%, most preferred from approximately 25% toapproximately 35% of carbon dioxide.
 7. The media container according toclaim 1, wherein the closure is adapted to be sealed.
 8. The mediacontainer according to claim 1, wherein the closure is adapted to bewelded.
 9. The media container according to claim 1, wherein the mediacontainer is fluid tight.
 10. The media container according to claim 1,wherein the media container is fluid tight up to an external pressure ofapproximately more than 2 bar, preferably more than approximately 5 bar,most preferably up to more than approximately 10 bar.
 11. The mediacontainer according to claim 1, wherein the medium is a film, a filmreel with film, a sound carrier or a data carrier.
 12. A mediaprotection apparatus, adapted to exhaust a media container according toclaim 1 and to fill the media container according to claim 1 withprotective gas, comprising a chamber adapted to accommodate the mediacontainer; an evacuation opening in the chamber connected to a pump,wherein the pump is adapted to exhaust the chamber and the mediacontainer; a protective gas opening in the chamber connected to aprotective gas source, wherein the protective gas source is adapted tofill the media container with protective gas; and a closure deviceadapted to close the closure of the media container.
 13. The mediaprotecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the evacuationopening and the protective gas opening are formed integral.
 14. Themedia protecting device according to claim 12, comprising a conduit,arranged from the protective gas opening to the opening of the mediacontainer.
 15. The media protecting apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the closure device is adapted to close the closure of the mediacontainer by thermal energy.
 16. The media protecting apparatusaccording to claim 12, comprising a pressure compensation openingadapted to perform the pressure compensation for the chamber.
 17. Themedia protecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pressurecompensation opening is formed integral with the evacuation opening andthe protective gas opening.
 18. The media protecting apparatus accordingto claim 12, wherein the chamber comprises a lid which may be opened andclosed to put the media container into the chamber and/or to remove thesame therefrom.